Evaluation of two minute task

For our task, we were aiming to create a thriller/drama about the Ipswich murders (Steve Wright). For the opening credits and scene, we decided to have a mixture of different media forms (film and pictures). Our opening scene would contain clips of the victim running away, and then it cuts to the news report. The first thing that would appear on the opening credits would be a newspaper article about the murder which would then lead to the film. Also there would be location shots appearing; they would represent the crime scene photos. Our main target audience would be teens and young adults, as it wouldn’t be suitable for younger children, because of violence.

At first, we had trouble thinking of an idea, as none of us could think of anything. We then decided that we wanted to have ours as a thriller/ drama like Sweeney Todd (2007 film) and looked up about the modern Jack the Ripper (Steve Wright), and therefore decided that this was what our piece was based on. We had to make sure that we didn’t make it look like a documentary. We had some trouble with illness from all of us, and so could film at some points. We also had to rethink the opening sequence as we felt our original idea wouldn’t work. When we first managed to film and go onto the editing stage, we noticed that there were many errors, and therefore decided to redo the whole filming. We used some friends for the interview and used Jenni’s living room as her room was perfect for the news sofa, as her wall was plain.

When editing, i choose to have the title at written over a blood background, as this would go into the idea of thriller straight away to the audience. At first i found it difficult to edit as it was different to the software that i have at home, but i manage to figure it out. I feel that we could have done better in this task, if we manage to be more organise as people were away and this couldn’t have been helped.

Looking back at the  preliminary task, i felt that this was more harder, even though it was only the opening of a film. I felt this because, in the preliminary task all we needed to do was to have someone enter a room with dialouge then leave, and with the main task, we had to create an idea for film and create the opening, which there was more thought and planning to do.

Planning Main Task

We decided to have a mixture if photo and film. The photos would contain eerie places and a newspaper article . The filming would be the Victim running away from the muderer (Steve Wright) and then a news report about the murder, interviewing children and teacher from the school the victim is from.

Cast:

Victim: Jenni Dack

News Reporter: Jessi Rabicano

P.E. Teacher: Libby O’Leary

History Teacher: Nik Jones

Two Teens: Jack and Whitney

Changes we made for the main task

We decided to change the opening layout. We will still be using thriller/drama as the genre.  We decided to have snapshots of scary gothic places still, but then goes to a live news report, (which i will playing the role of the news roporter) which then snaps to the victim running, (which will be played by Jenni) it will then go back to the new and flash back to the victim again.  We decided to do this instead, as we wasnt sure our other ideas was good for time wise.

Planning on Main Task

For our main task we decided to make a thriller/ drama for our opening. We looked up about Steve Wright and decided to show the uprising of him and his victims. This will not be a documentary, it will be as a film representing him.

For the begining, we have snapshots of gloomy and eerie places around Norwich e.g. The Cathedral, Castle etc. We still havent yet decided of which to show these places either as photos or film with slight movement. then we would show the victim running away.

Evaluation Of The Preliminary Task!

In our preliminary task, we had to make a short film of someone entering a room say a few lines of dialogue to the other character, who is already in the room, then leave again. We had to think about props, location and genre of the scene. Our Genre was a comedy spoof on a police drama. We showed this when the first 10 to 20 seconds are serious, when the investigator (Jenni Dack) is entering the room and the f irst part of the dialogue. The comedy comes in when the accused (Whitney Mckernan) misunderstanding the question. For example, the investigator says “we all know the truth we all know that you’re the murderer” and the accused replied “what! what was that about a hamburger?”

Firstly, we had to look at the location, costumes and props. For the location, we looked at a room from Sprowston high school, but it was unavaliable, as we could only film at certain time, which we couldn’t do.  So we had to find another location, we had troubles finding a location but we found a place which was appropiate for our filming. We filmed at a room at Sewell park college.

We also had  problems with costumes as we had a problem. So the we had to change the character costumes. At one point we had the accused as a old woman, who has trouble hearing, but we didnt have the costume for it, so then we changed it to a foriegner, who has trouble undestanding english. The investigator was dressed smartly, wearing dark and dull clothing, as we were using a represntation of an investigator. The accused would contrast the investigator, the accused wore colourful clothing. 

Originally we were going to have many props for our filming. For example, we were going to have the investigator smoking and used a unlight cigerette and smoking machine, but since there were problems getting the snoke machine we decided to change it. We were also going to use a walking stick as part of the old woman; we could not get one in time for the filming.

When editing, we realised that we didn’t do the 180 degree rule. We also have got an error on the final piece, we noticed this when we finnished editing. Time was a problem for us, as the person that is in the film was ill, but we managed to get the filming done at the end. From doing this task we (as a group) realise to make sure that we get everything done and to be more organised with props.

Answers to Questions…..Media Premiliary Task

1. We first decided on what we were going to do, and then we sorted out what we needed and where we were going to base it (location). We manage to find most of the costume for then characters and props. We then had trouble find some of the props and clothing for the old woman, so we decided to change the character to a foreigner, which made it easier for props and costume.  We first had trouble finding the location for the filming, as it is a police investigation interview, we eventually found a room at the sewell park site and manage to film. We didnt use much props for a task, so therefore wasn’t a big issue. We first thought of what genre we wanted it to be and what about, once we decided on that we developed the script.
2. We were originally going to use a real cigerette, but we decided to either use a fake one or a smoke machine, in case for health and safety reasons. But since we couldn’t access a smoke machine, we did not use it.
3. When making the script we all had ideas and we made them into the script.  When we created the storyboard we divided it in four (person enters, beginning of convosation, end of convosation and leaving the room.) We wrote on the storyboard any sound, lighting and what camera shot will be used.
4. We knew who was going to do the acting so first we decided on the costume the characters would where (old woman and the investigator) and then we decided on the actor who will be playing them. But this soon change because of props and costumes we not accessible for filming. We then thought where the appropiate location would be and like. We wanted a room with clear walls, like an interview room. Then we discusted what props we were going to used.